My dad was a pipeline welder for a long time. He smoked as well (which definitely hasn't helped his lungs) but I read a couple of years back about how pipeline

My dad was a pipeline welder for a long time. He smoked as well (which definitely hasn't helped his lungs) but I read a couple of years back about how pipeline companies will reuse pipes, including pipes that carried radioactive waste water from wells. Welding a radioactive contaminated pipe sounds like a bad time. My dad learned he had lung cancer because the tumor migrated to the base of his skull and started damaging his vision until he had a car accident. Then the scans revealed his lung cancer and the migrated tumor. Welding and metalwork for so many years probably played a part in his cancer. They removed 1/3rd of his right lung and now he has a metal plate in his head from getting that tumor removed. He was 63 when diagnosed, and is a stubborn old Texas Marine who is still around about 5 years later. Overall, I think he spent more time doing other work than welding, but I remember him always talking about any time he welded it always gave him black boogers.